Gonococcemia - disseminated

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Circulatory system

Gonococcal bacteremia

There are two goals in treating a sexually transmitted disease, especially one as easily spread as gonorrhea. The first is to cure the infection in the patient. The second is to locate and test all of the other people the person had sexual contact with and treat them to prevent further spread of the disease.

Penicillin used to be given to patients with gonorrhea. But some types of the gonorrhea bacteria no longer respond to the drug. This is called antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is major public health threat in which bacteria cannot be killed with the usual antibiotic medicines.

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The bacteria responsible for gonorrhea is growing increasingly resistant to another class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones, which includes ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, or levofloxacin. The CDC now recommendeds against using these medicines to treat gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea is now treated with potent antibiotics called cephalosporins, including ceftriaxone (Rocephin). For gonococcemia, treatment is usually first given through an IV rather than by mouth. Since chlamydia frequently occurs along with gonorrhea, treatment for chlamydia is often given at the same time.

A follow-up visit after treatment is important to recheck lab tests and make sure the infection is cured.

With proper treatment, the outcome is expected to be good. When treatment is delayed there is a greater chance of complications.

• Gonococcal endocarditis
• Gonococcal meningitis

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of disseminated gonococcemia.

Review Date: 08/29/2008
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Greg Juhn, MTPW, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Cyrus Badshah, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Assistant Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & Medical Director, Chest (TB)Clinic and Directly Observed Therapy Program, Harlem Hospital Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (6/22/2007).

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